The Westfalia center kitchen cabinet with the two top-entry compartments are convenient for storing canned and packaged foods and other groceries. Our only complaint was that these lids refused to stay open while we rummaged around inside for the cowboy beans or a tiny tin of sardines in mustard sauce.
The solution, fortunately, lay at the opposite end of the main kitchen galley cabinet, beneath the lid. The wizards of Westfalia-Werke saw fit to install a convenient cabinet lid support here, but neglected to include something similar for the smaller cabinet lids. No worries, for a handy Westy owner can easily install such a folding support there, perhaps even two!
Just as in the kitchen galley cabinet, folding lid supports (also sometimes called ‘support hinges’) mount out of sight beneath the lid of a cabinet, chest, or enclosed desk. Once opened and raised, the support holds the lid in a locked and upright position during use for easy rummaging, then is unlocked and folded down for storage.
For installation in the Westy center cabinet lids, you’ll want a support hinge about 8-10″ in length, and either left- or right-hand-mounted, depending on preference. They are often available in a variety of finishes: brass, chrome, painted, etc..
Follow the directions included with the supports to determine the proper locations of the mounting screws in the two ends. Like me, you may have to add a small wooden block or plate to make a suitable mounting spot for the lower end. I also added a small tab to this block to which I adhered a block of foam, to prevent a persistent rattling when the lid is closed.
Also depending on your personal preference, such supports can be mounted so that when folded, the knee joint folds either toward or away from you.
With only a few minutes work, you can make your own Westy kitchen all that much easier to enjoy!
Cabinet Lid Supports available here:
Lid Support Hinge 10″ Left
Lid Support Hinge 10″ Right
I just use the curtain bungie.
Yes, that’s a common solution too! But one must be careful; on early models of the Vanagon that curtain retainer cord is a very fine spring, and excessive stretching can make it become loose and saggy.
The link for the hinges takes you to Amazon where they are almost $60 CDN but I found the same item on Ebay for $6 US! I thought for sure it was a typo so clicked the link again. nope. same price with extra for shipping.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kv-Lid-Support-Hinge-10-Anochrome-Right-PartNo-472-R-ANO-by-Knape-Vogt-/172225640421
ellen, not sure why these would be so much more in Canada, but the Amazon US site offers them for about $11 each. Thanks for the eBay tip!